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Robert Roghair, MD

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Brief description of current research:

Over the past decade, we have investigated the developmental origins of adult disease. Epidemiological studies and animal models have shown individuals born in the face of nutritional deficiency reprogram their development to thrive in the face of adversity and are born small, but thrifty. When environmental conditions change, this early life adaptation becomes maladaptive, and abundant caloric intake leads to accelerated weight gain, obesity and diabetes. Unfortunately, attempts to constrain early growth recovery may be associated with impaired brain development, predisposing to a different set of adult diseases, including hypertension. We seek the identification of trophic factors, such as leptin, that facilitate organ development without subjecting the individual to the harmful effects of overnutrition.